A transition like no other

The stretch between Donald Trump’s election and his inauguration did not exactly provide a lull in the political action. Instead, nearly every day has seen an astonishing and relentless flood of news and controversy, as the president-elect used Twitter to insert himself into foreign affairs, goad corporate leaders, grouse about the media, criticize the nation’s intelligence agencies, and complain — without proof — of election fraud. Here’s a look back at the jam-packed 71 days since the presidential election. What happens next is still anyone’s guess.

Wednesday, Nov. 9

Victory speech

Trump declares victory in the wee hours of the morning. “It is time for us to come together as one united people,” he says. Later, Hillary Clinton concedes: “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.”

“Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!” View on Twitter

Friday, Nov. 11

About those promises

Trump suggests he may keep parts of Obamacare. He demurs on whether he’ll appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton, as promised. Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is out as head of the Trump transition team, replaced by Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

“Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud!” View on Twitter

Saturday, Nov. 12

Clinton’s defense

Hillary Clinton blames the FBI inquiry into her State Department e-mail for stymying her campaign. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of women on Facebook say they will attend a march on Washington the day after Trump’s inauguration.

“The @nytimes states today that DJT believes ‘more countries should acquire nuclear weapons.’ How dishonest are they. I never said this!” (In fact, Trump had said in a previous interview that it might not be such a bad thing if South Korea and Japan were to develop their own nuclear weapons in self defense.) View on Twitter

The Trump transition team is roiled by reports of infighting. Some officials describe a purge orchestrated by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Trump is revealed to have had conversations with foreign leaders without official State Department briefing materials.

“If the election were based on total popular vote I would have campaigned in N.Y. Florida and California and won even bigger and more easily.” View on Twitter

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Assad sees an ally

President Bashar Assad of Syria, reviled by the Obama administration, says Trump could be a “natural ally” in the fight against terrorism. In New York, advisers, would-be Cabinet officials, and other visitors hustle in and out of Trump Tower.

“I worked hard with Bill Ford to keep the Lincoln plant in Kentucky. I owed it to the great State of Kentucky for their confidence in me!” [The company says it wasn’t planning to move the plant.] View on Twitter

Friday, Nov. 18

Controversial pick

Trump picks Senator Jeff Sessions, conservative hard-liner from Alabama, for attorney general. And he agrees to pay $25 million to settle lawsuits involving Trump University. In the evening, Vice President-elect Mike Pence gets a politically charged appeal from the cast of “Hamilton” on Broadway, as actors urge him to “uphold our American values.”

“Will be working all weekend in choosing the great men and women who will be helping to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Saturday, Nov. 19

Last-ditch effort

A grass-roots campaign by Trump opponents tries to persuade members of the Electoral College to deny him the presidency. In New York, former governor Mitt Romney meets with Trump to discuss the position of secretary of state.

“The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!” View on Twitter

Sunday, Nov. 20

Return of waterboarding?

Marine General James Mattis emerges as a leading contender for secretary of defense. Vice President-elect Mike Pence declines in an interview to rule out the possibility that Trump will reinstate waterboarding as an interrogation technique.

Monday, Nov. 21

Funding the resistance

Nonprofits report an uptick in donations from people angry about Trump’s election. Among the recipients: the American Civil Liberties Union, the Conservation Law Foundation, Muslim Advocates, and the Anti-Defamation League.

“Prior to the election it was well known that I have interests in properties all over the world. Only the crooked media makes this a big deal!” View on Twitter

Tuesday, Nov. 22

No Clinton prosecution

Trump drops his vow to jail Hillary Clinton and expresses doubt about the value of torturing terror suspects. Trump’s charity also admits it violated IRS rules barring it from using its assets to benefit him.

Former presidential candidate Jill Stein announces a campaign to pay for election recounts in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, rival GOP factions work to influence Trump’s choice for secretary of state — some favoring former governor Mitt Romney, others former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Trump condemns a growing push to force recounts in three states pivotal to his election victory. “The people have spoken, and the election is over. We must accept this result and then look to the future,” he says.

An Ohio State student plows a car into pedestrians and stabs people with a butcher knife before being killed by a police officer. Eleven are injured. In Aleppo, Syria, thousands flee for their lives as rebel fighters lose a large stretch of territory to government forces.

(Apparently in response to an incident at Hampshire College) “Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag — if they do, there must be consequences — perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!” View on Twitter

Wednesday, Nov. 30

Not-so-populist pick

Trump picks Steven Mnuchin, former Goldman Sachs trader, as Treasury secretary, leading to criticism that he has abandoned his populist promises to clean up Washington. Meanwhile, a senior Russian diplomat says his country has been in contact with Trump’s team over Syria.

“I will be holding a major news conference in New York City with my children on December 15 to discuss the fact that I will be leaving my …great business in total in order to fully focus on running the country in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! While I am not mandated to ....do this under the law, I feel it is visually important, as President, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses..,Hence, legal documents are being crafted which take me completely out of business operations. The Presidency is a far more important task!” View on Twitter

Thursday, Dec. 1

Uncontrolled anger

At Harvard, campaign fury reignites, as top aides to Hillary Clinton accuse Trump’s team of encouraging racism. Trump announces that he has chosen retired Marine General James Mattis for secretary of defense. In Indiana, under pressure from Trump, Carrier Corp. announces it won’t ship 800 jobs to Mexico.

Friday, Dec. 2

Controversial phone call

Trump speaks by phone with Taiwan’s president, breaking with nearly four decades of US diplomatic practice and angering China.

“Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.” View on Twitter

Saturday, Dec. 3

Democratic game plan

Senate Democrats concede they have little leverage to stop Trump’s Cabinet nominees, but they nonetheless intend to make political hay by highlighting the incongruities between Trump’s campaign promises and the team he is assembling.

Sunday, Dec. 4

Pipeline setback

The Army announces it will not approve an easement needed for the Dakota Access Pipeline, a victory for thousands who have protested the project. Meanwhile, Trump expands the search for secretary of state. Among the new candidates: Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil.

“Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into...their country (the U.S. doesn't tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!” View on Twitter

Monday, Dec. 5

Climate confab

Trump meets with former vice president Al Gore to discuss climate change. “It was a sincere search for areas of common ground,” Gore says. House Republican leaders signal they won’t support Trump’s threat to impose a heavy tax on companies moving jobs overseas.

“Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” View on Twitter

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Not Gore’s choice

Trump chooses Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, a climate change skeptic, to head the Environmental Protection Agency. He grouses about Time Magazine’s description of him as “president of the Divided States of America.” — “I’m not president yet. So I didn’t do anything to divide.”

Trump settles on Rex Tillerson, Exxon Mobil CEO, for secretary of state. Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are planning to undo a raft of Obama administration edicts, including those on taxes, the environment, and workplace overtime pay.

“Reports by @CNN that I will be working on The Apprentice during my Presidency, even part time, are ridiculous & untrue - FAKE NEWS!” (The day before, Trump aide Kellyanne Conway defended his decision to remain an executive producer on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” arguing on CNN that “presidents have a right to do things in their spare time.”) View on Twitter

Sunday, Dec. 11

Climate skepticism

In a television interview, Trump says “nobody really knows” whether climate change is real and that he is studying whether the United States should withdraw from the global warming agreement struck in Paris.

“Just watched @NBCNightlyNews - So biased, inaccurate and bad, point after point. Just can't get much worse, although @CNN is right up there!” View on Twitter

Monday, Dec. 12

Russia probe

Contrary to Trump, congressional Republicans say they support investigations into possible Russian cyberattacks aimed at influencing the election. Meanwhile, members of Congress express concern that Rex Tillerson, Trump’s choice for secretary of state, has a cozy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Even though I am not mandated by law to do so, I will be leaving my businesses before January 20th so that I can focus full time on the......Presidency. Two of my children, Don and Eric, plus executives, will manage them. No new deals will be done during my term(s) in office.” View on Twitter

Tuesday, Dec. 13

Perry for Energy

Trump picks former Texas governor Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy, an agency Perry once said he wanted to eliminate but whose name he could not recall in a debate. In Syria, the city of Aleppo falls to government forces.

The stock market has soared to record highs since Election Day. Meanwhile, Facebook says it has begun working to limit misinformation and fake news on its site. And in the South China Sea, China seizes an underwater American drone.

“Has anyone looked at the really poor numbers of @VanityFair Magazine. Way down, big trouble, dead! Graydon Carter, no talent, will be out!” (The tweet is in response to an article declaring the Trump Grill in Trump Tower perhaps the worst restaurant in the country.) View on Twitter

“If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!” View on Twitter

Monday, Dec. 19

It’s official

The Electoral College officially ratifies Trump’s victory. Meanwhile, a massive truck plows through a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least 12 people. In Turkey, an assassin kills Russia’s ambassador to Ankara at an art exhibit.

“Bill Clinton stated that I called him after the election. Wrong, he called me (with a very nice congratulations). He ‘doesn't know much’ … especially how to get people, even with an unlimited budget, out to vote in the vital swing states (and more). They focused on wrong states.” View on Twitter

Wednesday, Dec. 21

Muslim ban?

Trump declares the truck assault in Berlin “an attack on humanity” and suggests he might pursue his campaign pledge to temporarily ban Muslim immigrants from coming into the country. Meanwhile, Trump extracts a promise from Boeing Co.’s chief executive that the cost of replacing Air Force One will not exceed $4 billion.

“The big loss yesterday for Israel in the United Nations will make it much harder to negotiate peace. Too bad, but we will get it done anyway!” View on Twitter

Sunday, Dec. 25

Business entanglements

Amid pressure, Trump and his advisers debate how to draw lines between his business operations and his new job. Ethics experts urge him to divest fully from the company and place someone independent of his family in charge. Meanwhile, a Russian plane crashes, killing 92 people.

Monday, Dec. 26

Health care fight

Republicans agree they want to repeal President Obama’s health care law, but they are split on what to replace it with — if anything at all. Meanwhile, Obama says he could have defeated Trump in the election.

“The world was gloomy before I won - there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10% and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!” View on Twitter

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Israeli accusation

Israel accuses the United States of orchestrating the controversial UN vote criticizing Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is close to announcing a series of measures to punish Russia for interfering in the election.

“The ‘Intelligence’ briefing on so-called ‘Russian hacking’ was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!” View on Twitter

Thursday, Jan. 5

United front

Top intelligence officials and senators from both parties reaffirm the conclusion that the Russian government tried to influence the election, countering Trump’s skepticism and suggesting that he’s undermining the agencies’ morale. Republicans say they’re exploring ways to fund a wall on the US southern border.

“The Democrats, led by head clown Chuck Schumer, know how bad ObamaCare is and what a mess they are in. Instead of working to fix it, they.....do the typical political thing and BLAME. The fact is ObamaCare was a lie from the beginning.’Keep you doctor, keep your plan!’ It is.......time for Republicans & Democrats to get together and come up with a healthcare plan that really works - much less expensive & FAR BETTER!” View on Twitter

“The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!” View on Twitter

Saturday, Jan. 7

In Russia, a big joke

News that US intelligence agencies believe Russia conducted an elaborate campaign, ordered by Vladimir Putin to aid Trump, is greeted with mockery by Russian politicians and commentators. “Laughter of the year!” says Margarita Simonyan, editor of RT, a state-funded television network.

“Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only ‘stupid’ people, or fools, would think that it is bad! We.....have enough problems around the world without yet another one. When I am President, Russia will respect us far more than they do now and....both countries will, perhaps, work together to solve some of the many great and pressing problems and issues of the WORLD!” View on Twitter

“Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn’t know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes. She is a … Hillary flunky who lost big. For the 100th time, I never ‘mocked’ a disabled reporter (would never do that) but simply showed him … ‘groveling’ when he totally changed[a][b] a 16 year old story that he had written in order to make me look bad. Just more very dishonest media!” View on Twitter

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Obama valedictory

President Obama delivers a farewell address, noting that among the nation’s strengths is “the peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next.’’ Meanwhile, intelligence agencies are reported to have presented Obama and Trump with unsubstantiated reports that Russia has compromising personal information about Trump.

In a volatile press conference, Trump repudiates leaks of unconfirmed claims that Russia has information on him so salacious it could expose him to blackmail: “It’s all fake news — phony stuff. It didn’t happen.’’

“Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to ‘leak’ into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in Nazi Germany?” View on Twitter

Thursday, Jan. 12

Chowder fight

The CEO of Legal Sea Foods, which traditionally supplies chowder for the inauguration, may be out of luck. “I haven’t heard from anybody yet,’’ Roger Berkowitz says. Governor Charlie Baker urges Congress to protect key pieces of Obamacare. And Rex Tillerson calls for China to be denied access to its artificial islands in the South China Sea.

“All of my Cabinet nominee are looking good and doing a great job. I want them to be themselves and express their own thoughts, not mine!” View on Twitter

Saturday, Jan. 14

Civil rights fight

Trump attacks civil rights hero John Lewis for questioning the legitimacy of his election and disparages Lewis’s Georgia congressional district. In response, several members of Congress will boycott the inauguration. Editors at the Atlanta Journal Constitution prepare a bold front-page headline: “Atlanta to Trump: Wrong.”

“Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to … mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!” View on Twitter

Sunday, Jan. 15

Russian connection?

On a TV talk show, Vice President-elect Mike Pence declines to answer repeated questions about whether the Trump campaign had contact with Russia during the election. “It’s all part of a narrative to delegitimize the election,” Pence says. “The American people see right through it.”

“For many years our country has been divided, angry and untrusting. Many say it will never change, the hatred is too deep. IT WILL CHANGE!!!!” View on Twitter

Monday, Jan. 16

MLK Day meeting

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Trump meets with King’s eldest son amid growing tensions between Trump and African Americans triggered by his public feud with civil rights icon John Lewis. Martin Luther King III calls the meeting “constructive.”

“@FoxNews ‘Outgoing CIA Chief, John Brennan, blasts Pres-Elect Trump on Russia threat. Does not fully understand.’ Oh really, couldn't do... much worse - just look at Syria (red line), Crimea, Ukraine and the build-up of Russian nukes. Not good! Was this the leaker of Fake News? View on Twitter

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Commutation for Manning

President Obama commutes the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the Army intelligence officer convicted of leaking scores of classified documents. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office says 18 million people would lose health insurance in the first year if Republicans repeal major portions of Obamacare without a replacement.

"Totally biased @NBCNews went out of its way to say that the big announcement from Ford, G.M., Lockheed & others that jobs are coming back...to the U.S., but had nothing to do with TRUMP, is more FAKE NEWS. Ask top CEO's of those companies for real facts. Came back because of me!" View on Twitter